DESIGN OF OLD & NEW
EDUCATIONAL BUILDING
Explore one distinctive change between old architecture design and with what we have in the present.
Old and present architecture, is there any distinct differences between the both? In my opinion, yes, most of the building types has truly transformed a lot in terms of form and architectural style throughout the years. But the crucial part of it is that whether it still function as what it meant to be. And most importantly is people should be able to still admire and experience the old buildings just like how they are awed by the new buildings with interesting spaces and form design. After all, what is the use of building if it’s without human activities?Old and present architecture, is there any distinct differences between the both? In my opinion, yes, most of the building types has truly transformed a lot in terms of form and architectural style throughout the years. But the crucial part of it is that whether it still function as what it meant to be. And most importantly is people should be able to still admire and experience the old buildings just like how they are awed by the new buildings with interesting spaces and form design. After all, what is the use of building if it’s without human activities?
I would like to elaborate more on this particular comparison using educational building from the past and present. As we all know, notable old educational buildings such as Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford University are of same old architectural style. All three are old and reknown.
For instance, University of Cambridge is the world’s fourth oldest surviving university. The most notable building in University of Cambridge is Peterhouse which established in the year 1284. It is the oldest college in University of Cambridge, designed in Neo-Gothic style by John Simpson Architects. It really shows the Gothic style of England during that period of time where people and students nowadays can appreciate the beautiful architectural style. Imagine studying there, it’s like dream come true walking inside the beautiful Neo-Gothic style campus. And imagine the big lawn at the courtyard of Peterhouse, which I think it’s the best place for students to carry out activities and interactions. Peterhouse includes The Burrough’s Building which is built in 1736 of Neo-Palladian style and even a Chapel that is of Laudian Gothic style mixing with Renaissance details.
As for the present architecture, The Hive Learning Hub in Nanyang Technology University really stands out from all the educational buildings that I’ve know of. It was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and completed in year 2015. It’s a cluster of tapered towers surrounding an expansive atrium. The idea was to combine learning facilities with social spaces including balconies, gardens and open-air corridors, to encourage as many opportunities for staff and student interactions as possible. The 12 towers, which each taper inwards towards the base, accommodate a total of 56 oval classrooms. According to the designers, the non-hierarchal round shape which is without any corners or obvious fronts or backs will encourage more collaborative learning.
By comparing both old and new buildings, the architectural style definitely is the most distinct change. Next on, the space planning of the new buildings are in a more creative and convenient way. For instance, Peterhouse in Cambridge provide classrooms in a linear and longitudinal way where students have to walk through long corridors to access from classrooms to classrooms. Whereas The Hive in NTU is designed in such a way that classrooms are all clustered together in a very organic and centralized plan so that students can move from class to class more conveniently. Despite the change of architectural style and design, it still serves as an educational building.
In my point of view, the transition from old to new is that there’s a lot of extra considerations, or should I say trend, in designing educational buildings. Universities nowadays tend to invite starchitects to create a highly notable and iconic building and to break through the ordinary. Starchitecture like this are to enhance the reputation of that particular university. Furthermore, sustainability is also one of the new trend where latest technologies are being used including ground source heat pumps, wind turbines and solar panels. Renewable sources are the bomb right now. Besides that, new educational buildings are introducing informal, flexible learning places just like what The Hive and ADM in NTU which introduced balconies and green roof for out of the classroom learning spaces. Although outdoor learning spaces are also found in old educational buildings like Cambridge, in my opinion it’s just a big lawn in the courtyard without any design as compared to what we have now in NTU. The outdoor learning place in ADM is creatively designed and integrated with landscape.
I really hope that in the future, old buildings are well preserved so that future generations can actually see and experience them, not through holograms. It’s really sad that governments are treating old historical buildings as a burden instead of an architectural gem. We really should preserve and learn from the past as we creating more and more new buildings.
Harvard University
Cambridge University
Oxford University
Chapel in Cambridge University
Peterhouse Oldcourt
Another faculty building I find new and interesting in NTU is The School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) which is built in 2006. It has literally a green roof covered with grass that people can actually walk on top of the roof to carry out activities and interact with one another.
Classrooms and learning sapces are clustered
:D